Table Rock is the flat sandstone headland that closes the south-eastern end of Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, and it is the most interesting piece of terrain in the sanctuary. The point is undercut on its seaward side into ledges, overhangs and a cave-like cavity beneath the rock itself, with deeper water off the face than anywhere else along this shore and a bouldery bottom where slabs have fallen from the cliff. That structure attracts the sanctuary's bigger fish: dusky morwong, Port Jackson sharks resting under the overhangs, schools of old wives, moonlighters and zebrafish, scalyfin, Tasmanian blennies, Eastern Australian salmon passing outside in autumn, and smooth stingrays, southern eagle rays and fiddler rays on the sand at the base.

Urchins and sea stars are thick on the rock and the cave holds cardinalfish and the occasional cuttlefish. Because the point is exposed to the south-west, it is also the sanctuary site most affected by weather; on a fresh south-westerly the outer face is white water and the dive should not be attempted. On a calm day with a high tide it is the sanctuary's best dive and a popular night dive, the undercut being close to Melbourne and full of nocturnal life.

The entry is from Watkins Bay via steps from the Bay Trail, with parking in Rennison Street and a road crossing, and the nicest way to dive it is one-way: in at Watkins Bay, around the point, and out at the Sea Scouts Jetty ramp 200 m east, which sits just outside the sanctuary boundary.

Park in Rennison Street, Beaumaris (residential, free) and cross Beach Road with care; there is no beachside parking. Walk east along the Bay Trail from Rennison Street for about 30 m to the steps down to the beach, a total carry of around 150 m. Enter from Watkins Bay near the bottom of the steps and swim out around Table Rock.

Exit either back at the steps or, to make a one-way dive, continue east to the concrete ramp at the Beaumaris Sea Scouts Jetty 200 m away and walk back along the Bay Trail. Public toilets are on the eastern side of Table Rock Point.

Best with offshore light north-westerly to north-easterly winds. Avoid moderate to strong onshore south-easterly to south-westerly winds; the point takes the full fetch of the bay and white water over the rock means the entry and the cave are unsafe. Dive just before high tide for clear water and enough depth over the ledges.

Visibility 3-8 m, best in winter, poor after rain. No swell. Boat traffic rounding the point is constant in summer; tow a flag.

Enter at Watkins Bay, fin out around the point, descend at 3 m and work along the outer face of Table Rock at 4-6 m, checking the ledges and the cave-like undercut beneath the rock, continue toward the Sea Scouts Jetty or turn at half gas and return around the point to the steps.

No commercial dive boat – shore site dived independently and by Melbourne dive shops for training and night dives (Scuba Culture in Cheltenham is the closest shop and uses the sanctuary regularly; Aquability and Melbourne Diving Services run club nights). Marine Care Ricketts Point runs guided snorkels in summer and Parks Victoria licensed tour operators run snorkel tours.